Promo restrictions accepted by Brit gambling firms

[jetset]

UK GAMBLING PROMO RESTRICTIONS AGREED

Betting companies to confine kiddie shirt sponsorships and obey advert curfew

The British gambling industry appears to have reached agreement with government on new restrictions on gambling promotions, according to a weekend article in The Observer newspaper.

When it comes to replica football hero shirts for children, the industry has agreed that betting company branding and logos will not be included in the design, and on the advertising front it has been accepted that radio and television advertising will be restricted until after 9 pm at night, although there are exemptions for Premiership games.

Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and newly promoted Sunderland all have lucrative shirt-sponsorship deals with online betting companies, reports the newspaper.

The agreement follows a meeting with the new Culture, Media and Sports Secretary, James Purnell, and The Observer quotes a government source as revealing that Purnell felt the prospect of ads for online gambling sites during programmes like Coronation Street was something he was determined to prevent in order to protect children. "He also feels strongly that the idea of children seeing gambling adverts or being able to wear football shirts with gambling logos is wrong," the source added.

New gambling law gives the Secretary of State wide powers to limit advertising. Purnell reportedly told industry representatives that he would not hesitate to act unless they tightened the voluntary rules. Under the new code, there will be no gambling adverts before the 9 pm watershed and they will carry 'social responsibility signposting' similar to that in alcohol advertising.

The government is to continue an exemption for sports-betting adverts during televised Premiership games and other broadcast sporting events, as well as lottery and bingo advertising - in part because the income helps to support grassroots and minority sports.

The move by Purnell - coming on the heels of prime minister Gordon Brown's decision to shelve plans for a supercasino in Manchester - is the latest sign of the government's retreat from Blair-era policies on gambling, opines the newspaper. An industry executive who took part in the talks said that, despite pressure from local MPs to revive plans for casinos in Manchester and Blackpool, any such move seemed 'very, very unlikely'.

[dealer wins]

The government is to continue an exemption for sports-betting adverts during televised Premiership games and other broadcast sporting events, as well as lottery and bingo advertising - in part because the income helps to support grassroots and minority sports.

This bit just about sums up this governments attitude perfectly doesnt it.

Gambling is really bad and we cant allow our children to become future addicts....... BUT will will allow advertising when it is in our interest to allow it.

Either ban it totally or allow it totally ffs. Makes my blood boil!!!!!!

[breezer]

This is typical of government hypocrisy. They acknowledge that there is a binge drinking problem among 16-24yr olds but its fine for football teams to be sponsored by beer brands and have these brands plastered(no pun intended) on their shirts.

[SlotsWizard]

This bit just about sums up this governments attitude perfectly doesnt it.

I would be grateful if my government approved of online gambling, regardless of their stance on gambling advertising.

If you think your government's bad, let's trade.

[dealer wins]

I would be grateful if my government approved of online gambling, regardless of their stance on gambling advertising.

If you think your government's bad, let's trade.

Lets be honest they are both as bad as each other. The worst 2 governments our countries have ever had IMHO.

[NZmumof4]

As far as I am concerned these goverments are all a bunch of a$$ *&^%$# and we are all at thier mercy because it all comes down to the mighty dollar.

I am even dictated to on how & where I can spend/use my hard earned money thattttttttttttttttttttttt really makes my blood boil!!

[jetset]

VOLUNTARY GAMBLING ADVERTISING CODE AGREED BY UK ONLINE AND OFFLINE TRADE BODIES

Remote Gaming Association joins other British trade groups in compliance

On and offline gambling trade associations have given support to a voluntary gambling industry code for socially responsible advertising developed jointly by the associations for the United Kingdom.

The code, which supplements the principal advertising rules produced and administered by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), sets out a number of key principles and offers advice to gambling operators to assist them in producing socially responsible advertising.

It also lists a number of specific requirements including the inclusion in advertisements of a reference to gambleaware.co.uk, a website established by the Responsibility In Gambling Trust (RIGT) to provide advice and information about responsible gambling; the introduction of a 9pm watershed before which gambling products cannot be broadcast on television and that logos and other gambling promotional material should not appear on commercial merchandising designed for use by children.

The new code was developed in consultation with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), the UK Gambling Commission, Responsibility In Gambling Trust (RIGT), Gamcare and a diverse group of industry interests and is a practical example of the gambling industry’s commitment to social responsibility.

Currently being established is a watchdog group to monitor and review the code on a regular basis with the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), the Bingo Association, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), the British Casino Association (BCA), the Business In Sport And Leisure (BISL) and the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) all represented.